Drier for sand, gravel, &amp;c.



. w. H. DANCE.

DRIER FOR smn, GRAVEL, sin.

7 APPLICATION FILED DEC-Z1. 19 16.

1,230,684. Patented June 19, 1917.

part are Parana ora ion.

WILLIAM H. DANCE, 0F CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE DYAR SUPPLY COMPANY, OF CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

DRIER FOR SAND, GRAVEL, &c.

Patented June 19, 191?.

Application filed December 21, 1916. Serial No. 138,171.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM H. DANCE, a citizen of the United States, residlng at Cambridge, in the county of Middlesex and State of l\1assachusetts, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Driers for' terial, by the use of a hydrocarbon flamev projected by air pressure into the lower end of a rotating drum which is ournaled to rotate on an inclined axis, the higher end of the drum being provided with means for feeding the material into it, and with a stack for inducing an outward flow of vapor and gases from the drum, and the drum being provided internally with means for alternately raising and dropping the materlal fed into it. The construction and arrangement is such that the green material entering thehigher end of the drum 1s continuously agitated and moved progressively toward the lower end, in an approximately helical path due to the alternate raising and "dropping 0f the material and to the inclination of the drum, the material being progressively subjected to a gradually increas- 'ing temperature from the point where it enters to the point where it-leaves the drum, and the partially dried material being practically free from contact. with the vapor evaporated from the material in the drum, all as hereinafter more fully described.

Of the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification:

Figure 1 represents a longitudinal section of a drier embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 represents asection on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 represents a section on line 3-8 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 represents a perspective view of the chute alone;

Fig. 5 represents a perspective view showing the chute and the intake portion of the stack operatively related, the drum being omitted.

Fig. 6 represents a perspectiveview of the burner holder at the lower end of the drum and the heat-conducting bed accompanying said holder and arranged over the burner.

Fig. 7 represents a perspective view of a portlon of one of the internal wings-or buckets attached to the drum.

Fig. 8 represents a section on line 77 of Fig. 1.

The same reference characters indicate the same or smnlar parts in all the views.

\ The frame of my improved apparatus as.

here shown includes two longitudinally ex tending metal I-beams 12, cross-bars 13 connecting said beams, and a frame extension. 14: projecting from one side of the frame structure formed by the said beams and crossbars. The said frame is adapted to be supported in an inclined position, as shown by Fig. 1, by suitable supports 16 placed under the beams 12.

The frame is provided with roller bearings, preferably comprising two pairs of,

grooved rollers 17 journaled in suitable bearings on the frame. 18 represents an open-ended rotary drum of cylindrical form provided with annular peripheral ribs or flanges 19 bearing on the rollers 17 so that when the frame is inclined as shown,'the drum is rotatively supported by the rollers 17 in an inclined position.

20 represents a fixed inclined chute attached to legs or standards 21, which are suitably attached to the frame, the lower end of the chute being formed to enter the lower portion of the higher end of the drum 18 without contacting with the drum, said lower portion being substantially semicircu lar, as indicated by Figs. 2, 1, and 5.

23 represents an upright stack, the lower portion of which is widened and cut away at one side to form an intake, the margin of which is formed by a substantially semicircular flange 24 which projects over the upper portion of the higher end of the drum 18 without contacting therewith. The stack is supported by suitable means, such as legs or standards 23, suitably attached to the frame. The relative arrangement of the chute 20, stack 23, and the higher end of the drum, is such, that material inserted in the chute passes by gravity to the interior of the drum, as indicated by the arrow'w in Fig. 1, while vapor and gases passing from ter, as indicated by dotted arrows in Fig. 1. The chute 1s provided with a flap valve 25 hinged at 26 and arranged to normally close against the chute, as indicated by full lines in Fig. 1, to prevent steam and gases from escaping through the chute, said valve being adapted to yield to permit the materlal to pass by it into the drum.

The drum is provided internally with suitable means, such as longitudinally extending wings 28, for alternately raising and lower portion thereof unobstructed for the discharge of the dried material, as indicated by the arrow y in Fig. 1. i

The holder 29 supports a hydrocarbon burner which is adapted to be supplied with oil and air under pressure, and maybe of any suitable construction. I have shown the burner at 31 in Figs. 1 and. 6, said burner being arranged to project its flame into the 7 lower end of the drum'18 and toward the upper end thereof, the flame extending substantially parallel withthe axis of the drum.

Accompanying the holder 29 and rigidly secured thereto by suitable means, such as arms 29 is a fixed heat-conducting bed 41 which projects into the lower end portion of the drum, is interposed between the burner flame and the top of the drum, and is arranged to be heated by the flame. Such bed is inclined laterally to guide material dropping from the upper portion of the drum across the flame without contact therewith, so that the dropping material does not pass through the flame, and therefore does not take up unconsumed oil. and arrangement of the bed 41 are such that all the material dropping upon it slides or rolls from the bed and is discharged upon the bottom portion of the drum. The bed becomes highly heated so that it completes the drying of the material discharged upon it. The bed 41 is preferably angular or roof-shaped, as shown by Figs. 3 and 6, so that it presents two inclined faces to the descending material which guide said material vided with extensions 28*, Figs. 3 and 7, said wings and extensions forming angular buckets adapted to raise the material in masses 28*, into the upper portion of the prevent the bed The inclination Practically all of the material elevated in the portion of the drum into which the bed- 41 projects, is therefore dropped upon the bed and uniformly distributed over the same, so that the material absorbs and conducts away sufiicient heat from the bed to from being injuriously heated.

32'1'epresents an oil reservoir supported in an elevated position by a platform 33, which in turn is supported by the frame extension 14. An oil conduit 34 extends from the reservoir to the burner 31, oil being supplied to the burner by gravity.

35 represents an air pump supported by the frame and connected by an air conduit 36 with the burner 31.

A motor 37 shown somewhat conventionally dotted lines in Fig. 1', is supported by the frame at one side of the drum and has suitable driving connections with the pump 35, causing the latter to force air un- I chute 20 it enters the higher. end of the drum, and is circulated over portions of the heated surface of the drum and is heated partly by said surface and partly by the hot products of combustion. As each unit of the'material progresses through the drum it encounters a gradually increasing temperature, the units being therefore rapidly dried during their passage through the drum. The drying of the units is completed by their distribution over the heated bed 41,

the units passing repeatedly down the sloping sides of the. bed and escaping from the lower end of the drum, as indicated by the arrow 3 The vapor and gases are withdrawn from the higher end of the drum by the stack, which induces an outward flow from said higher end.

The portions of the wings 28 extending from the higher end ofthe drum to the zone or portion of the drum occupied by the bed 41, are preferably single, flat radial shelves extending radially toward the axis of the drum, and adapted to discharge or drop the,

raised material before it reaches the highest or vapor conducting portion of the drum, so that the material is not raisedhigh enough to encounter the vapor resulting" from evaporation the material being raised in relatively shallow masses and to a minimum height. The vapor rises to the upper portion of the drum "and passes to the stack zone, where it is subjected to radiated heat from the drum and bed,-and to direct contact with the heated bed. In otherwords, the material is raised by said buckets in relatively deep masses and to a maximum height Incidentally the movementof the material toward the "lower end of the drum is less rapid in the zone occupied by the bed 41,

than in the other portions of the drum, be-- cause it is not liberated so quickly by the buckets in said zone, as'by the portions of the radial wings not provided with the extensions 28. The material is thereforere peatedly discharged on the heated bed, -so

upper portion of thedrum to retard the drying action.

The stack has an outlet at 50 for water I of condensation portion.

I claim:

1. A drier of the character stated, comprising an open-ended drum mounted to r0- tate on an inclined axis and having internal means for alternately raising and releasing loose material therein, means for feeding loose material into the higher end of the drum, a fixed burner arranged to project a flame into the lower end of the, drum and toward the higher end, and a fixed heatconducting bed projecting into the lower end portion of the drum, interposed between the burner flame and the top of the drum and arranged to be heated by the flame, said bed being inclined laterally to guide dropping material across the flame without contact therewith and discharge said material upon the bottom of the drum.

2. A drier of the character stated, comprising an open-ended drum mounted to rotate on an inclined axis and having internal longitudinally extending wings adapted to accumulating n Its upper alternately raise and release loose material the drum, portions of said wings .being adapted to raise relatively shallow masses of material to a minimum height,'while. other portions of said wings, in the end portion of the drum, which surrounds the bed, are '1:

provided with extensions forming buckets adapted to raise deeper masses of material to a maximum height and distribute said masses upon the bed.

3. A drier of the character stated, comprising an. open-ended drum mounted to rotate on an inclined axis and having internal means for alternately raising and dropping loose material therein, means for feeding loose material into the higherend of the drum, a burner arranged to project a flame into the lower end of the drum and toward the higher end, and a fixed roof-shaped heat-conducting bed projecting into the lower end portion of the drum, interposed between the burner flame and the top of the drum, and arranged to be heated by the flame,- said bed having two inclined faces adapted to guide dropping material in two directions across the: flame without contact therewith, and to discharge said material upon the bottom of the drum.

tate on an inclined axis, and having internal 7 means for alternately raising and dropping loose material therein, means for feeding loose material into the higher end of the drum, a fixed burner holder located outside the drum and adjacent to its lower end, the lower portion of said lower end being -.un-

obstructed and constituting an outlet for raise and discharge loose material in the drum, means for feeding loose material into the higher end of the drum, a burner arranged to project a flame into the lower end of the drum and toward the higher end thereof, and a fixed heat-conducting bed projecting into thelower end portion of the drum, interposed between the burner flame and the top of the drum and arranged to be heated by the flame, said bedbeing inclined laterally to guide dropping material across the flame without contact therewith and dis charge'said material upon the bottom of the drum, the said buckets being formed at the lower end portion of the drum to raise the 4. A drier of the character stated, comprising an open-ended drum mounted to rodrum and discharge said masses upon the 'bed.

6. An apparatus of the class described,

comprising an inclined drum having internal projections on its walls, a stack arranged to receive the upper end of said drum,

means for heating the interior of said drum, a chute extending through the lower portion of said stack and into the drum and having an'external entrance portion arranged to re-' ceive loose material, and a flap valve mounted on the wall ofsaid stack so as normally to form a continuation of said wall to close said chute, but to be movable by'loose material deposited in the entrance portion of the chute to permit passage of such material along the chute, said chute being inclined so. as to permit loose material therein to gravitate into the drum. i

7. A drier of the character stated, comprising an open-ended drum mounted to rotate on an inclined axis, a 'fixed burner arranged to project a flame into the lower end of the drum and toward thehigherend, a fixed laterally inclined heat-conducting bed occupying the lower end portion or zone of the drum, and interposed between the burner flame and the top of the drum, the upper portion of the drum between said bed and the higher end constituting a vapor-conducting portion, a stack adapted to conduct vapor and products of combustion from the higher end of the drum, means for feeding loose material into the higher end of the drum, and internal means carried by the drum for alternately raising and releasing said material, said means being adapted to circulate the materialwholly below the said vapor-conducting portion, and to carry the material into the upper portion of the zone occupied by said bed.- v

8. A drier of the character stated, comprising an open-ended drum mounted to rotate on an inclined axis, a fixedburner ar ranged to project a flame into the lower end of the drum and toward the higher end, the projected flame occupying only a limited portion or zone at the lower end of the drum,- a stack adapted to conduct vapor and products of combustion from the higher end of the drum, means for rotating the drum, ma-

terlal raismg and releasing means carried by the drum and acting to cause a circulation and a progressive movement of the material, said means being organized 'to cause a slower progressive movement and a higher circulating movement in sald zone than in he higher portion of the drum, and fixed means in said zone for preventing contact of the material with the burner flame.

9. A drier, of the character stated, comprising an open-ended drum mounted to rotate on an inclined axis, a fixed burner arranged to projectafiame into the lower end of the drum and'toward the higher end, the projected flame occupying only a limited portion or zone at the lower end of the drum, a stack adapted to conduct vapor and products of combustion from the higherend of the drum, means for rotating the between the burnerflame and the'top of the A drum.

10. A drier of the character stated, comprising an inclined drum having internal projections on its walls, a stack arranged to receive the higher endof the drum and provided above the drum with an outlet for water of condensation, means for heating the interior of the drum, and means for admitting loose material to the drum below the stack, said outlet preventing water descending from the stack from moistening said material.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature.

WILLIAM H. DANCE. 

